Update: I-81 reopens after 3 people killed in crash

Virginia State Police spokesperson Corinne Geller tells us the tractor trailer and car collided around 6:22 p.m. on Tuesday night, in the southbound lanes of Interstate 81.

We're told the tractor trailer had suffered a flat tire and pulled off the right shoulder to inspect it. Geller says the car, a Toyota Avalon, then ran off the left side of the road, over corrected and slid sideways into the back of the truck.

Geller tells us the male driver and two male passengers in the Toyota died at the scene. A third male passenger was flow by the Virginia State Police Med-Flight helicopter to Bristol Regional Medical Center. She says the passenger had serious injuries at that time.

We're told neither the driver, nor passenger, in the tractor trailer were harmed during the crash.

Geller says they are still investigating the cause of the crash but they don't think alcohol was a factor.

Update at 9:15 p.m.

Interstate 81 has reopened following the crash that killed three people and left one other victim injured.

Update at 8:30 p.m.

Washington County, Virginia Emergency Management Director Pokey Harris and Corinne Geller with the Virginia State Police said three people died in a wreck on Interstate 81 southbound at the 34 mile marker Tuesday evening.

Geller said the crash happened about 6:22 p.m. in the southbound lanes when a tractor trailer and a car collided. In addition to the three deceased victims, a fourth person was rescued from the scene and flown to a hospital in unknown condition.

The victims' names have not been released or details on what led up to the crash.

News 5 WCYB has a crew on the scene gathering more facts on this story.